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Hi,
I've seen Christian Conrad. I believe he fits into the Jacob Conrad Jr family. Many of his names match exactly with this family. It seems that there's a lot of exaggeration and embelishment (on the War of 1812 for example). The census records show that he put on more than 10 years every census and seems to have been popular as an old timer in the area.
Following are my notes and excerpts...
I have that he was born circa 1808, died 3 Mar 1896, son of J. Jacob Conrath (Conrad) Jr and Catharine Steinbruch. Jacob Jr was son of Jacob Conrath (Conrad) of Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA.
Tim Conrad
1840
1850 census, Highland, Grant Co, Wisconsin, Christian Cunrad 50, farmer, (PA), Elizabeth 38 (PA), Mary E 18 (PA), Geo N 16, David 14, Elizabeth 12, Sarah J 10, Electa A 6 (MI), Jacob 4 (IL), Newton 1
1860 census, Coffin's Grove, Delware Co, IA, Christian Conrod 68, farmer, (PA) Elizabeth 45, Mary E 26 (PA), George 24, David 22, Charlotte 21, Jane 19 (PA) Electa 16 (MI), Peter 13 (IL), Newton 12, Isabell 7, John 5 (IA), Christeen 1 (IA) $400
1870 census, Coffin's Grove, Delaware Co, IA, Christian Coonrad 80, farmer, born in PA, Elizabeth 56 (PA), Christina 11 (IA), John O 15 (IA) $1000/357
1880 census, Coffin's Grove, Delaware Co, IA, Christian Coonrad 94, farmer, born Germany, Elizabot 67 (PA), Christine 19 (IA) (daughter) (by Nuton Coonrad 30).
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http://www.iowaoldpress.com/IA/Polk/1885/NOV.html
Christian Conrad, 104 years, Coffin's Grove, Delaware county
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Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Delaware & Buchanan, IA, Vol II,
1890:
Christian Coonrod, a farmer, residing in Coffin's Grove township, about six miles northwest of Manchester, is certainly the oldest man in Delaware county, and probably the oldest man in northeast Iowa. He says that he was born September 22, 1780. He would, therefore, at this writing (September, 1890) be 110 years old. There are no means at hand for verifying the dates, the fact as to the time of his birth resting upon his memory, unsupported by any corroborative evidence. Still, if we grant Mr. Coonrod the same privileg in reference to testifying for himself as to his age that we grant other men, and take his statement in reference to that fact as we take the statements of other men, the date above given must stand in the record as the time when he made his appearance in this world.
He was born in Cumberland county, PA, and comes of ancestry which, according to his statement, was remarkable for its longevity. His father, Jacob Coonrod, lived to be only 55, but his grandfather Coonrod reached the great age of 106; his grandmother Coonrod was something over 100, while his mother died at 102 and his maternal grandfather at 97. He is of German & French extraction, his father having been a native of Germany & his mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Steinbrook, a native of France.
Christian Coonrod was reared in Cumberland county, PA. He served in the War of 1812, taking part in the assault on Queenstown heights & the battle of Fort Erie, witnessing Perry's great victory on the lake, & concluded his military career at Sackett's harbor, where he was discharged at the end of the war. He remembers events connected with the war quite well, but he can not fix dates. This, and the fact that he lost his discharge papers years ago, has prevented his getting a pension for his military services at that time.
Returning to Pennsylvania at the close of the War of 1812, Mr. Coonrod took up farming, & followed it until the Erie canal was opened to traffic, when he sought & secured employment on that, running a line boat for several years between the chief commercial points on that water-way. He had previously operated a small boat on the Schuylkill river, when Philadelphia was a place of only a few thousand, Reading, a small country town, & Pittsburgh consisted of two stores & a boarding-house.
Tim's notes:
it certainly seems like Christian belongs in this family, considering his parents being Jacob Conrad and Catharine Steinbrook. The ages seem exaggerated, including his own. Growing up in Cumberland Co could be possible since Christian was orphaned at a young age. Or more likely it refers to Northumberland.
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http://iagenweb.org/delaware/bios/misc/Coonrod_Christian.htm
Biography Souvenir of Delaware and Buchanan County , 14 June 1892
Christian farmed 60 acres in Coffin's Grove Township, Delaware County, Iowa. Christian was over 30 when the War of 1812 broke out. He heard the news from a cousin. Then leaving the farm he joined serving on the Niagara Frontier. He was with Col. Miller's successful assault on Queens town Heights. Christian witnessed Perry's victory in the battle of Fort Erie. He ended his career at Sackett's Harbor. Christian lost his discharge papers and received no pension. He then returned to Pennsylvania to farm.
Christian ran a line boat on the Erie Canal for several years after it opened. Previously he operated a small boat on the Schvlkill River when Philadelphia was only a few thousand. Reading was a small town, and Pittsburgh had two stores and a boarding house. Christian started West in 1850 to McHenry County, Illinois. He purchased 640 acres and farmed on an extensive scale. There was a Prairie fire in 1856. He then sold out and went to Colony Township, Delaware County, Iowa.
Christian drank freely until around the age of 100. He used tobacco since age 16. Christian heard Washington make a speech. Saw LaFayette and Stephen Girard and others. He went to Illinois in 1841, then back to Colesburg, Iowa. Then moved to Coffins Grove Township in 1856. He was a strong and ardent supporter of Grover Cleveland. He sold pictures of himself for 25 cents and signed them with a cross because he shook to much at 95 to write. He enjoyed running away.
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http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=27369&iid=dvm_GenMono007507-00003-0
"Conrad Family Tree" (mostly Martin Conrad)
There was a Christian Conrad, a resident of Manchester, Delaware Co Iowa, who lived to attain the age of about one hundred fifteen. Christian said that his father Jacob, came from the Jura Mountain region, he left Europe about the time of the American Revolution, went to France and enlisted in the French army, possibly with LaFayette, came to this country and helped the Americans gain their Independence from Great Britain, afterwards settled in Bucks County Pennsylvania. At the death of Jacob, the children had some difficulties and rather than have trouble, Christian said he would leave home, and that they would never hear from him again, he moved to Iowa where he remained till the close of his long life.
He was a soldier in the second war with Great Britain. He never received a pension, was entitled to one but always refused it.
The family lore goes thus, that Jacob Conrad, who was an uncle of Martier Conrad of 1753, left his home mysteriously and was never heard from afterwards.
Whether this Jacob Conrad, who was the same as the one mentioned in the little sketch given by Christian Conrad of Iowa or not is information we are longing to establish, and any information that anyone can give that will lead to this identity will be gratefully received.
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